Almost Never Again
Last week, the Obama Administration released a new plan for engaging the situation in Sudan. Public attempts by the Bush Administration to isolate the oligarchic government of Sudan have proved ineffective.
The country's infamous north-south political divide, epitomized by the crisis in Darfur, has been simmering despite diplomatic isolation and economic sanctions. The Obama Administration is seeking a new path to stability in Sudan, focusing on providing the country's regime with a package of carrots and sticks, or what U.S. Special Envoy to the region, J. Scott Gration refers to as "gold stars and cookies".
The Administration will focus on pushing development tools (such as theAfrican Growth and Opportunity Act) to provide human security for the people of Darfur, and has conditionally renewed sanctions-which ban U.S. trade or investment with the country while freezing Sudanese assets held in U.S. banks.
The main focus of this new plan is to encourage the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed by the government of Sudan andsouthern rebel groups. The U.S. will continue to push for elections in 2011 that can serve as a referendum for southern independence.
Earlier this year, the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes/ crimes against humanity . So far, Bashir has yet to travel outside of Africa and the Middle East, a testament to the growing weight of international law. International activism has been critical to publicizing the campaign of genocide carried out by the Bashir regime.
Despite offering praise for the role of activism in pushing engagement with Sudan as an international issue, activists have overstated the role of China in supporting human rights abuses in Darfur. China maintains lucrative commercial ties to Khartoum, and needs a stable Sudan to expand access to oil interests.
Chinese public support for the Khartoum government should not be confused with overt support for genocide. Chinese diplomatic strategy relies on quiet, closed-door negotiation and the government played a critical role in persuading Sudan to accept UN peacekeepers.
Progressive politics aside, there are critical U.S. national interests at play in Sudan. The United States intelligence community needs to cultivate a strong relationship withKhartoum, a critical ally in the global war on terrorism. While Al Qaeda is under heavy assault in the Middle East and South Asia, the organization (and its organizational partners) continues to strengthen along the periphery of the Islamic World-Sudan is located strategically within two major US counter-terrorism operations: the Trans-Sahara Counter-terrorism Initiative and Operation Enduring Freedom-Horn of Africa,
Don't be mistaken, President Obama is committed to resolving the Crisis in Darfur. But the Long War continues...and it will continue after Obama leaves office.
China is partially to blame.
While this is a comprehensive and thorough presentation of the Obama Administration's role to create peace in Sudan, the processes have stalled thus far because (primarily) of China. As a prominent member on the UN Security Council, China has repeatedly threatened a veto against UN sanctions and abstained from a vote on labeling Omar al-Bashir as an international criminal.
If China is to rise as a global power, it must become a responsible and cooperative leader. China's self interested motives in Sudan have INDIRECTLY allowed millions to die at the hands of extremist groups and an aggressive government regime.
For us to ignore China's role in the Darfur crisis would be reprehensible and reckless. With regards to the need for China to step up on pressing international issues, we are seeing a repeat of such foolish and self interested motives undermining the United States' and UN's attempts to place sanctions on Iran.
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Though, still, great job!